Links To More Avenues Of My Mindful Creations

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Two days ago, as I was cleaning up my work area from the last project, I took a good look at the scraps. I needed to do something with them other than put them in my scrap drawer. You know that drawer....the one where all the scraps are too big to toss but not a full sheet and you just know you can use that scrap (s) one day on something. But that day doesn't seem to come too often as the scrap drawer (at least mine) is overflowing. So I stopped cleaning and went to work on using those scraps. The results is an itty bitty file folder mini album.

Based on the same idea as the previous project and my previous post...I used file folders to create my pages. Being smaller though, I had to create the tabs myself. Other than that, the album is pretty much like the larger size I made....just smaller. The album has three top loading pockets, two side loading pockets and three attached tags. The picture on the front cover is removable so that a photo can be placed there if wanted. Here are some more photos.

Here is a you tube video that shows pictures of the entire album...pages, tags and photo mats.

Some more pictures

Two projects later....I still have some scraps from this 8x8 paper pad.

Hmm...what to do....what should I make? Stay tuned to see if these scraps become something or if they end up in the scrap drawer!

Saturday, December 27, 2014

I love file folders! Not so much for filing things but for altering and creating things with them. If you were to offer me a handful of the best cardstock ever made or a handful of file folders....I would most likely choose the file folders. I have been watching several you tube videos where people have taken file folders to make mini albums and wanted to try making one of my own. Which brings me to today's post.

I took 4 letter size file folders, Graphic 45's "Raining Cats and Dogs" 8x8 paper pad collection, ideas inspired by two you tube videos and some ideas of my own and created this mini album for my friend Jenny. She has two fur babies and I thought she might like to use this album to showcase her fur babies.

I am happy with my first attempt at using file folders for a mini album but there are some things I would change on future ones. So how about some pictures!

I made a chipboard cover for the front and back. The back cover is the full width of the book including the tabs. The front cover though is cut shorter allowing the tabs to be shown. I wasn't sure I would like that but once I cut the covers and started putting it together, I was happy with it. The file folders are cut, scored, folded and put together in a way that creates a couple of side pockets and 3 top loading pockets in addition to the pages. There is no gusset or space though between pages to allow for lumpy embellishing. It pretty much is designed for pictures and journaling only.

I chose to leave the spine exposed and added 3 strips of ribbon as a design feature.

I inked all the edges of the file folder pages and the paper with black soot ink by Ranger's Distress Inks. The above pictures are a sampling of some of the inside pages. To see them all you can check out my you tube video:

You can also find the links to the two you tube videos that helped inspire my creation in the description box of my video. Be sure to check them out and see the fun file folders they have made.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. I am now finished with my treatments for breast cancer and taking some time to heal. I hope to be able to take this time and catch up with all my crafty friends and visit your blogs to see what you all have been creating. I also hope to get back into the crafty mode and get some serious crafting done. I have a long list of things I want to make / try!

Monday, November 17, 2014

I'm here! I know I haven't been posting much lately, but I do hope to improve on that come the first of the year after all my treatments and daily visits to the cancer center have stopped. Things are going well though and I will be happy to have this all behind me soon. I have also been lacking in visiting and commenting on the blogs of those who I follow...my apologies. Also hope to change that once this is over and I get my energy back. Meanwhile I have been trying to complete my Christmas cards as time and energy allow and do an occasional challenge to keep my mind occupied. Crafting and creating can be good for the soul!

The weekly "Hump Day" challenge last week on "We Craft Cards", was to make a Christmas treat bag. The same day this challenge was posted, SplitCoastStampers sent out their weekly newsletter with a tutorial for making a bag style treat bag. I thought it was perfect for the challenge. The tutorial shows you how to make the bags with a die and how to make them without the die for those like me who don't own the die! Super easy instructions to follow and these make up in no time at all. Plus you can get two out of one 8 1/2" x 11" piece of cardstock. Click HERE for the tutorial to make your own.

The treat bags are small...they are about 2 3/4' wide and 3 3/4" high. Perfect for that tiny little gift or treat, and ideal for holding a gift card!

I wish my pictures gave a better view of how these treat bags look in person. I used a cream color cardstock that has a cream color stripe. The ornament is a shiny red metallic and the green ornament with the mouse is all glittery green.

Saturday, October 18, 2014

Isn't this little guy cute?! I took a challenge to make either a Halloween, Thanksgiving or Christmas card using at least 3 punches. I chose to make a Christmas card. This cute little snowman took 9 punches to make him. The inspiration for the snowman came from SU demonstrator Dawn Griffith. Check out her tutorial HERE if you would like to know what punches to use and to learn how to make him.

I used some Stickles to glitter up the hearts and snowflakes but it was a bit hard to get that to photograph. Hopefully some of these additional pictures at different angles will help to show the sparkle.

While I have your attention, I would like to take a moment to talk heart to heart with you all. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I'm sure you all have been seeing all the commercials on TV for breast cancer awareness, radio commercials as well as pink ribbons everywhere by those who support breast cancer research. Some of you might even be tired of it already....but don't be. As the commercials are saying, "1 out of 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer". That is a pretty scary number. I found out last month that I am that "one" when I was diagnosed with breast cancer.

It does not run in my family, in fact, I am the first to be diagnosed with it. I did not feel a lump, nor did my doctor during my yearly exam. Thankfully though the routine yearly mammogram caught it. An ultrasound followed the mammogram to confirm that there was a mass. Biopsy followed confirming that it was cancer. I had surgery last week and I have further treatments ahead of me. Although I have some health issues that make it harder to treat me for breast cancer, I have the fact that it was caught early in my favor.

I'm putting this in my post today with the hopes that my story will encourage those who don't have a yearly mammogram to go get it done. The key to winning the fight against breast cancer is early detection. Don't be lazy, don't be scared and don't be stupid.....schedule your yearly mammogram and get it done if you haven't already. Do it for your family and friends....do it for you.

Saturday, October 4, 2014

ATC or artist trading card is a fun way to create a little piece of art that is all about you and then trade with other artist / crafters for an ATC they created. Some people like to use ATCs to decorate a scrapbook page or to use on a card. I like to trade and collect them and keep them in a binder and enjoy them as the little pieces of art that they are.

I joined an ATC swap where we have to make one ATC for everyone in the swap and we are allowed to make any theme, design etc of our choosing. I chose to make a mixed media collage design for my ATC.
Supplies I used:
A Manilla File Folder
White Gesso by Liquitex
Distress Inks by Ranger, Colors used: Wild Honey, Barn Door, Brushed Corduroy and Black Soot
Colorbox Pigment Ink: Gold
Burlap Stencil by Tim Holtz / Ranger Industries
Brass Dragonfly Stencil by Dreamweaver Brass Stencils
Eye image rubber stamp by Stampabilities
Art word image rubber stamp by Hero Arts
Prismacolor fine line black ink pen
Sakura Clear Glaze pen
Lightweight chipboard
water
adhesive

I began by cutting the base of my ATCs, which is 2 1/2" by 3 1/2", from a manilla file folder. I then placed a small amount of white gesso onto my craft mat. Using an old gift card, I dipped the edge of the card into the gesso then ran the card down the front of my ATC very lightly so that the gesso would be in random splotches on my ATC base. I then let the gesso air dry.

Once the gesso is dry it is time to add some ink. I applied Ranger's Distress Inks with a foam blending tool. The colors I used are Wild Honey and Barn Door.

After I had the inks applied and blended to my liking, I then spritzed a fine mist of water onto the inked ATC.

The gesso will act as a resist. You can take a paper towel and wipe the gesso areas off more if you like before spritzing with water. I liked that my gesso areas had some slight ink to them and chose to leave it. The water will react with the ink and create a fun look. Before going any further from this point, you will need to let the ATC dry. You can let it air dry on its own, or if you are like me and impatient, you can dry the ATC with a heat guu. Once the ATC was dry, I inked the edges with Distress Ink Brushed Corduroy.

I now took my Art word image rubber stamp and brushed a portion of the stamp with Distress Ink Black Soot and stamped onto the upper half of my ATC.

Using the foam blending tool and Distress Inks Brushed Corduroy, I then stenciled the lower portion of my ATC.

Now it is time to stamp the eye image, twice, with Distress Ink Black Soot.

Before going any further I made sure all ink on the ATC was dry. This time I left it overnight to dry but you could also use a heat gun. Once I was sure the ink from each step was dry I positioned my dragonfly brass stencil onto my ATC. I used a low tacky masking tape to hold the stencil in place while dry embossing the dragonfly using a lightbox. After dry embossing and before removing the brass stencil, I then stenciled the dragonfly with Colorbox's gold ink for the wings. I used Distress Ink Black Soot for the body of the dragonfly.

For the final step, I used the Prismacolor black pen to go over the word "ART" in the top left corner to make it stand out more. I gave it a couple of minutes to dry then I went over the word again this time with the Sakura Clear Glaze gel pen. Now the word ART not only is bolder but also has a shine to it.

I finished the ATC by adhering my creation to a lightweight chipboard, added a cream color cardstock backing with my artist info and then inked the edges front and back with Distress Ink Brushed Corduroy. The finished ATC pictured is not the one used in the tutorial pictures but was made using the same method.

Here is one more ATC using the same method and same products but a different layout.

I hope you enjoyed my ATCs and enjoyed seeing how I made them.
Thanks for stopping by!